Railway journal lubricator



Nov. 24, 1953 Filed May 15 1951 J. J. HEN NESSY RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 24, 1953 J. J. HENNESSY RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 15 1951 m m u h Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Application May 15, 1951, Serial No. 226,510

The invention relates to the lubrication of railway axle journal and bearing by the pumping of lubricant from the bottom of a journal box, mounted on the bearing, up to the journal. The invention comprises a simple, economical, and effective device which may be inserted through the usual opening in an American Association of Railroads type journal box and beneath the journal and be retained at the intended position in the box for normal operation.

The main object of the invention is to provide an adequate pump accurately positioned lengthwise of the journal and b x and applicable to and removable from the assembled journal and box without jacking up the box and removing the journal bearing or wedge or both, in order to place the lubricator in position.

In some respects the invention comprises an improvement upon the structure disclosed in co-pending application, filed by the present inventor October 9, 1950, Serial No. 189,232.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating seleoted embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through an ordinary A. A. R. journal box mounted upon a standard journal with the usual bearing and wedge and with the lubricator in functioning position. The section is taken approximately on the line i--l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a front view of the lubricator structure showing the same assembled with the box, a portion of the front of the box being broken away to more clearly illustrate the structure.

Figure 3 corresponds generally to the lower portion of Figure 1, but illustrates. another form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 with some of the parts eliminated to better illustrate other features.

Figure 5 is a top view of the pump, pump actuator, and pump positioning structure shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figures 6 and 8 correspond to Figure 3, but show respectively different forms of the invention.

Figures '7 and 9 correspond to Figure 2 but illustrate the structures shown in Figures 6 and 8, respectively.

In Figures 1 and 2, the journal I, bearing 2, wedge 3, and box 4 are of the usual A. A. R. construction. Mounted in the lower portion of the box is a pump 5, lubricant distributor 6, a pump actuating device I and a positioning 11 Claims. (Cl. 308-434) 2 structure, comprising a U-shaped locating rod 8, a distributor support arm 3, a frame member l0, and a yielding thrust yoke I I.

The left hand end of locating rod 3 and the intermediate portion of support arm 5; are coiled about a fulcrum pin [2 seated through washers i2a on the box bottom wall It which curves upwardly and forwardly to form the front wall of the box. The left hand end of support arm 9 is pivotally connected at H! to frame member m. The lower end of thrust yoke H is slidably and pivotally connected at A to the upper end of frame Ill and the upper end of yoke I I bears against downwardly facing lugs E5 on the box top wall. Coil springs i5 exert a thrust on frame member Iii which moves the latter downwardly and moves arm a and locating rod 8 inwardly to the extent permitted by the engagement of the right hand end of locating rod 8 with the box rear wall H, or with an oil and dust guard l8 seated against wall IT, or by the engagement of distributor 6 with the journal.

Pivotally supported on fulcrum [2' is a carrier I9 and a pump actuating lever 29. The right hand end of carrier 19 mounts pump 5 and the upper end of lever 20 mounts contacts 2|, adapted to engage the end of journal I. Springs 22 between carrier is and lever 28 normally hold these parts in the relative position shown but act as a safety relief in the event of excessive journal movement, clogging of pump by ice, or other condition, which would tend to break the lever. The pump body comprises a collapsible chamber receiving a spring 23, substantially weaker than springs 22, which is compressed when the journal moves to the left and expands as the journal moves to the right. The pump body has an inlet valve 24 at its lower end and a discharge valve 25 at. its upper end leading into distributor 6.

When the box and journal move relatively to each other as the axle plays back and forth during the travel of the vehicle, lever 20 is oscillated and carrier I9 is actuated to alternately thrust the lower end of the pump body upwardly, collapsing the pump chamber and forcing lubricant within the body to the distributor, and downwardly, under thrust of spring 23, to draw lubricant through valve 24 into the pump body. A screen 26 guards the intake valve and limits the downward movement of the pump body and carrier [9.

Preferably, locating rod 8 and arm 9 are of spring wire, possessing sufficient resiliency to mount the parts in the position shown during assembly and normal operation, but capable of being flexed during insertion and removal of the lubricator into and out of the box through the space between the journal and the box bottom and front walls.

When the lubricator is so inserted, the pump and pump lever fulcrum are positioned longitudinally of the box in accordance with the length of locating rod 8. Variation in the space between the journal and the bottom of the box, due to manufacturing tolerances, and wear of bearing 2 will not affect the relation between fulcrum l2 and the end of the journal. Support arm 9 will tilt on fulcrum l2 to elevate distributor 6 into contact with the journal independently of the position of furcrum l2 longitudinally of the box. Yoke H and spring IE will thrust frame member ID downwardly to hold distributor 6 against the journal and washer |2a against the box bottom wall. Variation in the distance between the journal and the bottom of the box will be accommodated by the flexibility of support arm 9 and the distortion of spring I6.

Figures 3, 4, and illustrate a structure in which each side of the locating rod 30 and distributor support arm 3| is formed preferably from a single length of spring wire, the outer right hand end of each wire being turned inwardly at 32 to engage the box rear wall 33, the extreme end of arms 3| being coiled around a pin 3% carried in a bracket 35 which mounts the distributor pad 36. However, all of the elements 30, 3| may be formed of a single length of wire or they may be formed separately and welded together if additional stifiness is desired. By withdrawing a retainer 31, which holds a pin 34, arm 3| and bracket 35 assembled, the distributor and the bearing of the lubricator may be readily disassembled for replacement of the distributor. Each element 30 and 3| forms a spring unit seated against the box bottom wall, and against the journal independently of the thrust by yoke 38 and frame 39 which function merely to move the elements 30, 3| and the parts positioned thereby inwardly of the box to the position shown. Pump 40, carrier 4|, operating lever 42 and associated parts are supported from the box lever 42 and associated parts are supported from the box bottom wall by mounting elements 43 and fulcrum pin 44.

Except as indicated, the structure and operation of the lubricator are as previously described in respect to the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the structure shown in Figures 6 and '7, the locating rod 59, frame member 5|, and thrust yoke 52 are similar to the corresponding parts shown in Figures 1 and 2, but the support arm 53 for the distributor 54 is a rigid member pivoted by the pump fulcrum pin 55 to an anchor 56 pivotally connected at 51 to frame member 5|. A torsion spring 58, seated on elements 5| and 53, thrust the right hand end of the support arm 53 upwardly to the extent permitted by the contact of the distributor with the journal.

In the structures shown in Figures 8 and 9, the

locating rod 60 corresponds to that shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, 7 but the support arm 6| for distributor 62 extends to the left a substantial distance beyond the operating lever fulcrum 63 and is enlarged at 64 below fulcrum 63 to bear on the box bottom wall under the downward thrust of spring yoke 65 on frame member 66 which is similarly enlarged at 6! to bear against the box front wall, elements SI and 66 being pivoted to each other at 68. The lengthening of arm BI and the shortening of frame member 66 avoid a tendency present in some assemblies for the lower end of the spring thrust frame member to swing away from the box bottom wall towards the journal to such an extent as to interfere with the thrust of the distributor against the journal by the distributor support arm.

Each form of the invention attains the general objects set forth in the introductory portion of the specification forming a simple lubricator in which all of the parts are positioned properly without adjustments and without any parts being welded or otherwise secured to the journal box.

This feature together with the use of the spring wire elements adapt the device to be readily inserted in ordinary journal and box assemblies and readily removed and replaced as may be desired.

The details of the construction may be varied other than as shown without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway journal box lubricator, a lubricant distributor for application to a journal, a pump for supplying lubricant to said distributor, a member for supporting the distributor and pump on the bottom wall of the journal box, a spacer connected to the support member projecting therefrom longitudinally of the distributor to engage a journal box end wall to hold the distributor and pump against movement longitudinally of the distributor in one direction from a predetermined position in the box, and yielding thrust means for engaging the box to move said support member in said direction to the extent permitted by the spacer.

2. Structure as described in claim 1 in which the spacer is pivoted to the supporting member and the yielding thrust means is pivoted to the supporting member and extend therefrom in the opposite direction from the spacer and upwardly therefrom to engage the front and top walls of the box.

3. In a railway journal box lubricator, a support member for resting upon the bottom wall of a journal box, a lubricant distributor, a pump, a pump operating lever, and individual means respectively mounting said distributor, pump and operating lever on the support member for movement relative to the support member independently of each other.

4. In a railway journal lubricator, a support member, for resting upon the bottom wall of a journal box, a lubricant distributor element, a pump element, a pump operating lever element, individual means mounting said distributor, pump and operating lever on the support member for movement relative to the support member independently of each other, and a spacer disposed to engage the box end wall to position the support member longitudinally of the box irrespective of the box of each of said elements.

5. In a railway journal box lubricator, a support member for resting on the bottom wall of a journal box, a spacer pivoted to said support member for contacting the box inner wall and positioning said member longitudinally of the box, a pump carrier pivoted to said support member, a lubricant distributor mounting pivoted to said support member, a thrust device pivoted to said support member, and a pump operating lever pivoted to said support member, said spacer,

carrier, mounting, device, and lever being movable relative to each other on their pivotal conneotions to the support member into substantial alignment with adjacent parts to facilitate insertion into and removal from a position in the box beneath the journal.

6. In a railway journal box lubricator, a support member for resting on the bottom wall of a journal box, a spacer connected thereto for positioning said member from the box inner end wall, a carrier pivoted on said member, a pump element mounted on said carrier, a lever fulcrumed on said member and extending upwardly therefrom, a journal contact element on said lever, an arm pivoted to said member and extending diagonally upwardly therefrom, a distributor element mounted on said arm, and spring means associated with said carrier, lever and arm to thrust said elements towards a journal in the box independently of said spacer. 7. In a railway journal box lubricator, a support member for resting upon the bottom of a journal box, an arm pivoted thereto and extending in opposite directions therefrom, a lubricant distributor pivotally mounted on one end of said arm, a thrust frame pivotally mounted on the other end of said arm and extending upwardly therefrom to engage a portion of the box, a lever fulcrumed on said member and extending upwardly therefrom to engage the end of a journal in the box, a carrier pivoted to said member and extending in the opposite direction from said lever, a pump mounted on one end of said carrier, and a spring connection between said lever and the other end of said carrier effecting an operative connection between said lever and pump.

8. In a railway journal box lubricator, a support member for resting upon the bottom of a journal box, a lubricant distributor above said member, an elongated member of resilient material doubled on itself about the support member with one part extending therefrom to mount the distributor and the other part extending rearwardly of the support member to engage the rear wall of the journal box to position the distributor, a pump, a pump carrier mounted on said support member, a pump operating lever fulcrumed on said carrier, and a box engaging thrust device associated with said support member and extending therefrom in the opposite direction from said elongated resilient member.

9. In a railway journal box lubricator, a support member for resting upon the bottom wall of a journal box, a spacer connected to said support member and extending therefrom to contact the inner wall of the box, an arm pivoted on said support member and extending therefrom in one direction and having a lubricant distributor carrying end and extending from the support member in the opposite direction and upwardly and having another end, a thrust device with one end pivoted to said support member and connected between its ends to the latter-mentioned end. of said arm, the other end of said device extending upwardly for engagement with the box top wall.

10. In combination, a railway axle journal, :1 box mounted thereon, a lubricator mounted in said box below said journal and including a sup port member resting upon the box bottom wall substantially beneath the end of the journal, a spacer connected to said support member and extending therefrom rearwardly of the box to engage the box inner end wall, an arm extending upwardly from said support member, a lubricant distributor on the outer end of said arm and contacting the journal, a thrust device extending forwardly of the box and upwardly from said support member and engaging the box front wall and the box top wall, a pump carrier pivotally mounted on said support member, a pump thereon, a connection between said pump and distribu tor, a pump operating lever fulcrumed on. said support member and extending upwardly in front of the journal end, and spring means thrustin said support member inwardly of the box and thrusting said arm and carrier upwardly and thrusting said lever against the end of the journal.

11. In combination, a railway axle journal, a box mounted thereon, a lubl'icator mounted in said box below said journal and including a support member resting upon the box bottom wall substantially beneath the end of the journal, a spacer connected to said support member and extending therefrom rearwardly of the box to engage the box inner end wall, an arm having a portion extending rearwardly of the box from said support member and upwardly, a lubricant distributor on the outer end of said arm and contacting the journal, said arm also having a portion extending forwardly of the box from said support member, a thrust device extending forwardly of the box and upwardly from said support member and engaging the box front wall and the box top wall, and also connected to the forwardly extending portion of said arm, a pump carrier pivotally mounted on said support member, a pump thereon, a connection between said pump and distributor, a pump operating lever fulcrumed on said support member and extending upwardly in front of the journal end, and spring means thrusting said support member inwardly of the box and thrusting said arm and carrier upwardly and thrusting said lever against the end of the journal.

JAMES J. HENNESSY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,794,457 Hennessy Mar. 3, 1931 1,906,589 Hennessy May 2, 1933 2,425,186 Hennessy Aug. 5, 1947 

